Catalog (116)

Japanese Early Meiji Period Kneeling Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) depicted with a gift box offering, wearing a fitted silk crepe haragake bib with a cherry blossoms design, tied at the neck and waist. He has a delightfully rendered face with a bright expression, slightly open mouth, and painted features. His forehead has a painted auspicious mizuhiki (presentation ribbon). He is covered overall in a fine white gofun (oyster shell lacquer). 4h x 4w inches, 10h x 10w cm.

Japanese Early Meiji Period Gosho Ningyo (Palace Doll) depicted with a gift box with Daruma and featuring a crane. He is wearing a fitted silk crepe haragake bib tied at the neck and waist. He has a delightfully rendered face with a bright expression, slightly open mouth, and painted features. His forehead has a painted auspicious mizuhiki (presentation ribbon). He is covered overall in a fine white gofun (oyster shell lacquer). 4.5h x 4.5w inches, 11.5h x 11.5w cm.

Rare Pair of Early Meiji Period Large Inu Gosho Ningyo, Japanese Dog Dolls made of lacquered papier mache. Most known examples are 3 to 5 inches in height. Chin Dogs were part of the Imperial court for centuries. They are wearing Imperial lacquered bibs, and are constructed in the manner of Gosho Ningyo. 10 inches (25.5cm) high.

Japanese Clay Figure of a Sino-Japanese War General on a White Horse. This would have been displayed in a Boys' Day festival in the late Meiji Period. Wonderfully painted with fine details. Height: 7.5 inches, 19 cm.

Rare Japanese Iki Ningyo (Living Doll) depicting a man clothed only in a loincloth, showing his perfect physique, with left arm raised and right hand gesturing his strength. Superbly crafted in the latter part of the 19th century for the export market, fulfilling the demand for Japanese “exotica”, following Japan’s opening to the West in the mid-19th century. Fashioned of wood and covered in naturally pigmented gofun, with inset glass eyes, and featuring individually inserted human hair strands, depicted with a bushy mustache and chin beard, finely detailed musculature executed in a hyper-realistic manner, mounted on a burl wood stand. A superior museum-quality masterpiece from all angles. Published in Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo. 20.5 inches, 52 cm.

Japanese Meiji Period Musha Ningyo (Boys' Day Doll) depicting Emperor Jimmu Tenno, the first Emperor of Japan, in an unusual seated position. A fine and rare Ningyo, wonderfully well-executed face with strong features, covered overall in a fine tinted gofun (oyster shell lacquer), with a spectacular silk fiber hairstyle, sumptuous silk brocades, and a sword at his hip while holding a fabulous polearm weapon. 10.5 inches, 26.5 cm.

Late Edo Period Musha Ningyo (Boys' Day Doll) of a Samurai and Attendant. Pairs of ningyo of this very fine quality almost never appear for sale, much less with all the accessories, as we have here. They have finely carved faces, and are lacquered with many coats of gofun (white oyster shell lacquer). They are adorned with sumptuous silk brocades and lacquered armor, indicative of this period of ningyo artistry. Seated Figure: 19h x 14w inches, 48.25h x 35.5 cm; Attendant Height: 15 inches, 38 cm; Banner Height: 26 inches, 66 cm.

Japanese antique living room in Victorian style, circa 1880, possibly exhibited at a world's fair. It is a rare, fascinating creation set in a silk brocade fabric box, with inlaid shibiyama style mother of pearl teak furniture. There are many miniature works of art featured, including a wonderful Gosho Ningyo, two flower containers, an ivory book, a three panel iris screen, ivory bird in a cage, etc. All objects in perfect proportion. 10h x 15.5w x 6d inches, 25.5h x 39.25w x 15.25d cm.

Japanese Dairi-bina Imperial Couple for the Hina-matsuri (Girl's Day), late Edo/early Meiji pair with Me-bina female wearing kokin-style surcoat with embroidered sleeves featuring a floral design, sumptuous kinran textiles, elaborate kanmuri crown, and cobra hairstyle. The O-bina male is wearing a rich brocade of white silk yusoku-style surcoat with floral cobalt blue roundels, lacquered paper kanmuri court cap, long curved sword at hip, shaku scepter in hand. The well-rendered faces are covered with a fine gofun (oyster-shell lacquer) and have glass eyes and painted features. These were made for the Imperial class. They are seated atop royal tatami platforms. Displayed in front of a pair of painted cherry blossoms screens, signed circa 1920. The screens are included. 16h x 14w inches, 40.5h x 35.5 cm.

An extremely rare and very large 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Iki Ningyo (living figure) of a young Bijin. An exquisite Ningyo representing idealized feminine Japanese beauty. She is posing as if for a photograph or for an artist. Every aspect is hyper realistic: the hair, eye lashes, accessories, and the painted kimono. She is holding a silver mirror and hair ornament as part of a collection of hair ornaments featuring a lacquered comb. Her beautiful face changes from different angles. Iki Ningyo in feminine form are rare; most are male forms. 27 inches, 68.5 cm.

Rare, Spectacular late Edo Period Musha Ningyo of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A musha ningyo (Boy's Day Ningyo) representing Toyotomi Hideyoshi in sumptuous gold court robes and armor, wearing an Eboshi winged hat and a fantastic sword, holding a gunbai-uchiwa (military fan). This Musha Ningyo of Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the finest quality example from the late Edo Period. Incredibly carved face covered in many layers of gofun (oyster shell lacquer). Seated on a lacquered platform. Placed in front of a screen as part of the presentation. The screen may be original to the piece. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) unified Japan after the Muromachi government lost control. The period of his rule, Momoyama is named after Hideyoshi's castle. 15h x 22w inches, 38h x 56w cm.

Japanese Late Edo Period very large rare pair of Musha Ningyo representing Empress Jingū (Jingū Kōgō) and the old minister Takenouchi no Sukune. He is holding the baby Ōjin (a son of the Empress Jingū who later became Emperor Ōjin) and is seated on a camp stool. These are among the largest examples and are of the highest quality and artistic workmanship. The heads and hands are carved of wood, covered with many layers of tinted gofun (oyster shell lacquer), creating exceptionally expressive faces, with glass eyes and silk hair. They are dressed in sumptuous silk brocade costumes. The armor is made of lacquered paper with gilt metal fittings. Empress Jingū is standing regally, hair tied back by a band, holding a fan and a bow, and a quiver with arrows. Both have swords. Altogether an extraordinary presence. According to the Nihonshoki, Jingū was empress from 201 A.D. to 269 A.D. She is known for her invasion of Korea while she was bearing her child. In order to delay her childbirth, a piece of rock was wrapped to her stomach. Jingu 29.5 inches (75cm), Takenouchi 27 inches (68.5cm), Ojin 10 inches (25.5cm).

Japanese Meiji Period Gosho Ningyo of Jimmu, the First Emperor of Japan. This is a wonderful ningyo, in great bright condition. Every aspect is of the highest quality. He has a gorgeous face, beautifully rendered. He is wearing sumptuous silk brocades, stretched on a carved wood body (kimekomi). He holds a bow and arrows. There are arrows in the quiver at his back, and a sword at his side. He is presented on his original lacquered stand. Height: 8.5 inches, 21.5 cm.

Japanese Gosho Ningyo of Momotaro the Peach Boy. This wonderful Ningyo represents Momotaro in a magical manner, his robes of chirimen silk crepe with painted designs of takaramono (sacred treasures) and peaches. He holds the pit of the peach in one hand and his banner with peach motif in the other. This is a wonderful ningyo, in great bright condition. Every aspect is of the highest quality. He has a gorgeous face, beautifully rendered, and is wearing sumptuous silk brocades stretched on a carved wood body (kimekomi). He is wearing a court hat and has a sword at his side. His height is 11.5 inches (29 cm). The black lacquered stand is 11.5 x 8.5 inches (29 x 21.5 cm).

Beautiful Japanese Daki Ningyo standing at the unusual height of 26 inches (66 cm), making him a very rare and striking figure of the merchant class. He is wearing an Inro with a pair of Kokishiki dolls inside. It is most uncommon to see this type of Ningyô outside of Japan, for they are highly prized by the Japanese. A widely held theory has it that these dolls were commissioned by patrons of Geisha as presentation gifts. This one is outstanding in every way. It has a wonderfully expressive face.

A fantastic, extremely rare and important Edo Period Daki Ningyo, with a fine shibori outer kimono, and a red chirimen silk crepe inner kimono with a fawn-spot pattern. Featuring a beautifully sensitive life-like face. Looks wonderful in a seated or standing pose. All aspects of this Daki Ningyo are of the finest quality. We are confident that you have never before seen one of this age and quality offered for sale. Height: 25 inches, 63.5 cm.

Munga Ningyo of a Samurai in Court Attire by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Late Edo Period. Height: 10 inches, 25.5 cm.

Japanese Isho Ningyo of a Noh Actor, Meiji Period, late 19th Century. Height: 13.75 inches, 35 cm.